Online Shopping Day sets new transactions record

The National Online Shopping Day (Harbolnas) held from Dec. 11 to 13 set a new record for the value of transactions, Rp 4.7 trillion (US$345.8 million), since the annual event began in 2012, the organizers announced Tuesday.

The record was 42 percent higher than the Rp 3.3 trillion recorded last year, and was boosted by transactions outside Java, which increased by 82 percent, far exceeding the 35 percent sales growth recorded in Java.

Total sales, meanwhile, were 4.2 times higher than on regular days.

Among the 254 marketplaces that took part in the event were Bukalapak, Lazada, fashion department store Mataharimall, hiking gear shop JalanPendaki and ticket seller BookMyShow.

a�?The result is in line with our mission to promote e-commerce in second and third tier cities, including those outside Java,a�? said Harbolnas organizing committee chairman Achmad Alkatiri.

The top five most popular categories were fashion and sports products, travel, cosmetics, electronic products and bill payments and top ups (mobile balance, etc), Nielsen research data shows.

However, the 42 percent increase in sales this year was lower than the 57 percent sales growth recorded from Harbolnas 2016.

a�?But 42 percent growth is very good, especially as the e-commerce sector is still developing,a�? said Nielsen consumer insight director Rusdy Sumantri. (bbn)